17 July

'The government and the people of Kenya hold the view that principles are more precious than medals.'
_ Kenya foreign minister, James OsogoJuly 2009

Today in 1976, 28 African countries including Libya, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Gambia, Sudan, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda withdrew from the Montreal Olympics in protest at the International Olympics Committee's refusal to ban New Zealand for its rugby union tour to South Africa.